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Felidae Behavior My name is Heather Alvey. I am a Certified Cat Behavior Consultant.

I’ve been working professionally in the cat world for over 20 years, so I like to think I stay on top of all things cat ...
29/09/2025

I’ve been working professionally in the cat world for over 20 years, so I like to think I stay on top of all things cat in pop culture. But somehow I completely missed the 2019 Japanese film Island of Cats until last week. I watched it this weekend, and now I’m wondering—was I the only one who didn’t know about this movie?

The film is cozy, joyful, and at times heartbreaking—it even made me cry for the first time in a while. One of my favorite parts was that the cats were real cats, not CGI. It was filmed on an island with a resident cat population, so while the lead cats were trained professionals (using positive reinforcement), there were also endless shots of cats simply being cats. The star cat, Tama, is unforgettable.

It’s clear this movie was made with patience and genuine care for both the professional cats and the island cats. If you’re a cat lover, I can’t recommend it enough—just be sure to have tissues nearby when you watch.

This is the only real “mistake” you can make in training.When you start clicker training, timing and technique do matter...
15/09/2025

This is the only real “mistake” you can make in training.

When you start clicker training, timing and technique do matter—but I find many of my clients get anxious about it. They worry about clicking at the wrong moment, reinforcing the wrong behavior, or somehow “breaking” their cat. The truth is, an accidental click won’t cause permanent damage to your cat’s behavior. Cats are flexible learners, and you can always adjust as you go.

The biggest error? Dropping a blob of Churu on their face while trying to teach them to stand up.

Have you had any funny training mishaps with your cat? I’d love to hear your stories.

How much does your cat really sleep?When I meet with clients, I always ask how their cats spend their days. So often I h...
08/09/2025

How much does your cat really sleep?

When I meet with clients, I always ask how their cats spend their days. So often I hear, “Oh, they just sleep all day.” Usually this is said as a way of explaining why their cat doesn’t seem interested in play or other activities.

Yes, cats are champion nappers, but in the wild they wouldn’t be snoozing all day long. They’d be exploring, climbing, hunting, and using their brains and bodies in different ways. When a cat sleeps excessively indoors, it’s often not because they need the sleep—it’s because they’re bored.

Boredom can lead to a variety of behavior issues, from attention-seeking to destructive habits. If your cat is sleeping through most of the day, chances are they need more opportunities to be awake, engaged, and enriched.

I always say: a busy, tired cat is a well-behaved cat.

If your cat is struggling with boredom or behavior challenges, I’d love to help. Reach out today to schedule a consultation.

25/08/2025

I’ll admit it—I haven’t kept up with Frankie’s clicker training lately. We started agility months ago, but between moving, projects, and life in general, her training took a backseat.

This weekend, some plans got canceled, and I actually found myself with free time (and a little bored). I decided to see what Frankie remembered and where we could pick things back up. I planned to start simple with her tunnel, but she breezed right through it—so I added the stool and even her skateboard.

She did amazing! Watching how much she enjoyed the session (and how deeply she napped afterward) made me feel a little guilty for letting it slide, but it also reminded me how much fun this is for both of us.

Her jumping pole didn’t survive the move, so I need to rebuild that. And someone in my previous post suggested adding a slide! I still have a couple of ramps from the Boomer and Impy days, so I think new elements will keep things exciting for Frankie—and motivating for me too.

I just spent a week and a half traveling the Ecuadorian coast by bike and bus. I expected to see a lot of stray animals,...
18/08/2025

I just spent a week and a half traveling the Ecuadorian coast by bike and bus. I expected to see a lot of stray animals, but what surprised me was how many cats were clearly loved and cared for. Almost every hotel or restaurant I stopped at seemed to have a resident cat.

Of course, there were feral cats too, and a couple in particular were hard to say goodbye to. I picked up cat food along the way so I could make sure a few had at least one easy meal.

Cats were everywhere—some healthy and cared for, others just scraping by. Seeing all the cats made me appreciate both how resilient they are that, while they can survive without us, their lives can be greatly improved the people around them.

Generally, I recommend rotating your cat’s toys to keep things fresh and exciting. But there’s always an exception: the ...
28/07/2025

Generally, I recommend rotating your cat’s toys to keep things fresh and exciting. But there’s always an exception: the favorite toy. You know the one—your cat’s OBSESSION. The toy you and your cat both panic about when it goes missing or starts falling apart.

For Frankie, it’s her pink mouse. (Pink mouse is the best mouse.) She carries it around, throws it in the air, and somehow it always ends up under the couch. I don’t rotate this toy out. It stays available because it brings her so much joy.

When a toy becomes a source of comfort or a treasured possession, it earns a permanent spot in the toy lineup.

Toys and play are such individual preferences. One cat’s paper ball is another cat’s pink mouse. In my latest blog post, I ramble on a bit about cats, toys, and playtime. Check it out on my website—link’s in the bio.

This is a great example of why I love timer dishes and often recommend them to clients. It is still 2 hours before lunch...
09/06/2025

This is a great example of why I love timer dishes and often recommend them to clients. It is still 2 hours before lunchtime, and instead of yelling at me to be fed, Frankie is laser-focused on her feeder. Timer dishes help take you out of the feeding equation, which can really help with food-related stress.....for both cats and their people.

Our cats seem to love getting in the middle of whatever we're doing—especially if it involves being still and focused. W...
02/06/2025

Our cats seem to love getting in the middle of whatever we're doing—especially if it involves being still and focused. Whether I'm reading, knitting, or trying to do yoga, Frankie somehow always finds a way to make it more… complicated.

These might be classic “cat lady” hobbies, but the irony is that cats aren't always the most helpful companions when you're trying to enjoy them.

What are your cat-interrupted hobbies? I’d love to hear what your cat makes harder (or more entertaining).

Has your cat ever surprised you by suddenly loving something they used to ignore?I’ve been thinking a lot lately about h...
19/05/2025

Has your cat ever surprised you by suddenly loving something they used to ignore?

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about how often I hear people speak in absolutes about their cats:
“They don’t like cat beds.”
“They used to play with this toy, but not anymore—so they don’t like to play.”

But cats aren’t robots. They’re always learning, changing, and sometimes they're just in a mood.

When someone tells me their cat won’t play with the toys they loved as kittens, that actually makes perfect sense. When you were 20, did you still enjoy the same things you did when you were 10?

As cats grow, they develop more specific preferences—just like we do. And some of those preferences are shaped by what they were (or weren’t) exposed to earlier in life.

Frankie, for example, has never been very into boxes or cat beds—unlike my previous cats, who couldn’t get enough of both. She was rescued as an adult stray from the countryside, and I suspect she just didn’t have much experience with either one.

But just because she hasn’t shown interest in something yet doesn’t mean she never will. Lately, she’s had some positive experiences in boxes, and I’m starting to see her jump into them voluntarily. Usually I’m her preferred cat bed, but when I’m not available, I've caught her snoozing on some curtains I’ve been meaning to hang up. Once I finally do, I’ll try putting a towel or bed in that spot and see what she thinks.

The bottom line? Don’t box your cat in (pun intended). Their preferences can evolve—especially with a little patience and creativity.

06/05/2025

I just published a new blog post all about Nosework for Cats, featuring an interview with Hanna from — and I highly recommend checking it out if you’re looking for a fresh, fun way to engage your cat’s brain.

I first tried Hanna’s program years ago with my cat Impy, but at the time I was running two businesses and couldn’t consistently stick with it. Still, I’ve recommended it to many of my clients over the years as an excellent enrichment activity — especially for food-motivated cats.

Now I live with Frankie, and I had a hunch she’d enjoy nosework too. She’s got a great nose for finding tasty treats, and sure enough, she picked it up right away. I’ve included a few videos here of her working through some of the steps. I don’t record every session, though — one of my favorite parts is just stepping back and watching her think it through.

This kind of enrichment isn’t just good for our cats — it’s a great way for us to better understand them, too. One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is to resist the urge to help. When I give Frankie space, she always works it out on her own.

Read the full post on my website — link in bio!

(Enjoy the double time Tom Waits in the last slide. Lol)

29/04/2025

Last week I talked about luxury splurges for your cat with your tax refund... but what about those of us that had to pay taxes instead? (Shout out to all the small business owners out there!)

Good news: your cat doesn’t care how much you spent — they care about fun, comfort, and connection.
Here are some FREE ways to spoil your cat:

*A ping pong ball, a cardboard box, and some wadded up paper for endless entertainment

*A dried leaf from the yard

*A treat toss session (perfect for when you're feeling lazy but your cat wants to play)

*Scrap yarn tied to a knitting needle for a DIY wand toy

*A cozy homemade nest using a blanket and some pillows

*A good old-fashioned paper ball chase

Swipe to see Frankie enjoying all of these budget-friendly ideas.

Remember, it’s not about how much you spend — it’s about the quality and variety of ways you interact with your cat.

What are your cat's favorite free activities?

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